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Rabu, 28 Maret 2012

Just because i work in the plant, they think i’m here for
something else beside the job

Situation

Jackie smyth had been working in the plant as maintenance
mechanic for six months when ann franklin a personnel specialist, decide to
visit with her. Ann had conducted on orientation session which jackie attended
when she first began work at then plant. Ann was interested in seeing how she
was adjusting to her new work environment and stopped by during jackie’s afternoon
break.

Ann : hey Jackie, i was in the area and thought i’d drop by
to see how things are going. Ann franklin from personnel

Jackie : oh, hello. We met at the orientation session,
right?

Ann : right, so how’s the new job?

Jackie : fine, just fine. No real problems

Ann : how are the folks in your work group?

Jackie : oh, they’re okay

Ann : do they seem to have any concerns about working with a
woman.

Jackie : uh, no, not really. At least not anything too
major, i guess

Ann : oh?

Jackie : well, there is something, ann, but i don’t think
anyone can do anything about it

Ann : what’s that?

Jackie well, they
either pinch my rump and wink at me or else they gripe about women’s libbers
taking over the world. What bothers me the most is that no one takes me
seriously. I’m either ignored or given too much attention. I don’t want to date
‘em or antagonize ‘em. I just want to do my job. The other day itold off one guy who grabbed me. Instead of
backing off, i think he’s taking me as a challenge because he gave me the eye
again today

Ann : feeling upset about it, huh?

Jackie : yeah, i’m about ready to really let the guy have
it!

Ann : i know that when i’m upset i really feel like blowing
my lid. Ussualy, though, it doesn’t really help things. It just makes me feel
better for a few minutes.

Jackie : what do you suggest i do, then? Just ignore him? That
won’t help.

Ann : i don’t think ignorning the situation is the answer. But
i do think it is important to consider what you really want to accomplish
first, and then decide what you’re going to do

Jackie : i want the guy to leave me alone

Ann : you also said you went others to take you seriously.

Jackie : that’s right. So how do i do it?

Ann : wull, let’s see. Your purpose is to be respected, to
let the guys know that you are not on some kind of campaign, and that you are
not available to every tom, Dick and Harry. Is that accurate?

Jackie : yes

Ann : so what are yur options beside reading this guy, who
is an immediate problem, the riot act?mmmmm.

Jackie : i guess i could take his aside and tell him about
it one-on-one. Or i could tell my boss and let him handle it, although that
would be like being a tattletale.

Ann : you think talking to him one-to-one would help?

Jackie : maybe

Ann : i think it’s a low risk, possible high payoff option. He
doesn’t get embarrassed and you show him and others that you can handle
yourself. When you talk to him, tell him how you feel about the situation, why
it bothers you, and offer him a way out to that he doesn’t feel like he’s
losing face with his friends. Maybe see if you can join his gang at work-related
problem. That’ll give you a chance to show him and other that you are
interested in your job.

Jackie : that sounds like a great idea

Ann : oh, and why don’t you wait until tomorrow in case
anyone’s seen us talk. They might be thinking the worse-that you’re
complaining-and if they see nothing directly come of this conversation today,
it will help you be accepted even more tomorrow

Jackie : good thanks.

Critique

Handling sexual advance in either a plant or an office
situation is difficult at best. If it the boss who is making advances, it can
be even more difficult. By responding a woman may develop reputation that can
never be lived down. A rebuff, on the other hand, can put a strain on a working
relationship that can seldom be effectively overcome. Although such a dilemma
may not be as intense when a woman must deal with the come-ons of a peer, the
situations differ more by degree than kind.

Margaret mead, the celebrate anthropogist, maintains that
taboos againts sexual relations between people whose jobs require them to work
closely with others should be developed to match the taboos in most societies
against incest. She maintains that the social fabric of the workplace, like the
home, depends on a deep abiding trust in one another. Workplace sex, like
incest, is based on exploitation rather thana desire for real intimacy. Trust, consequently, is destroyed.

A simple outline, which was used in this case, can be
a useful guide in dealing with sex at the workplace. Firstly, a counselor
should discover how the other person feels about the situation and let her (or
him) “blow off steam.” By asking questions which require factual answer (what
happened, when it occurred, etc) the person can be calmed down and will come to
consider available options more easily. Then, the counselor should get the
person to identify to a purpose or objective for improving things. “if the
situation were really better, what would it be like?” “how would you like
things to be different than they are now?” thirdl, the counselor can discuss
the likely reactions from others which various options would produce “if you
did that would it promote resentment? More kondding? Game playing? Cooperation?”
lastly, evaluating the risks of a particular course of action may provide some
hints on how to effectively implement it. This basic outline was followed by
ann in this discussion with Jackie.